Drivers on Ohio 7 in the Stratton area should prepare for delays as crews are set to remove a tunnel over the highway near the former W.H. Sammis Power Plant. The Ohio Department of Transportation announced that north- and southbound traffic will be stopped for 15-minute intervals several times a day during the weekdays, with the project expected to continue throughout the summer. This tunnel removal is part of a larger remediation project by B&B Wrecking and Excavating at the site, which was acquired by Energy Transition and Environmental Management in 2023.
The tunnel was initially built in 1982 to accommodate pollution-controlling equipment for the power plant. The closure of the plant in 2023 has led to major changes in Stratton, including adjustments in village operations and job terminations for 140 staff members. The plant, opened in 1962 by Ohio Edison and named after Walter H. Sammis, is undergoing these changes as the owner, Energy Harbor, shifts from coal-fired power plants to nuclear plants to comply with environmental regulations.
Stratton Mayor Paul Zdinak mentioned that the removal of the tunnel will be a significant change for residents and travelers, as it has been a landmark in the area for many years. The project also includes repairs to a bridge over Goose Run and the Norfolk Southern Railroad north of Stratton, set to be completed by October. The village is adapting to these transformations, including raising water and sewer rates to make up for lost revenue from the plant’s closure. Residents are experiencing a major shift as structures are being removed from the power plant’s site, with the completion of the tunnel removal and bridge repairs expected to bring significant changes to the area.
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